Glenea suffer shootout defeat to Quigleys Point

ULSTER CUP

Glenea United……………….. 3

Quigleys Point Swifts…….. 3

Quigleys Point Swifts win 4-3 on penalties

BY MATTHEW WILSON

Quigleys Point Swifts sealed their progression to the next round of the Ulster Cup on Saturday afternoon courtesy of a penalty shootout win over Glenea United.

In what was a thrilling encounter, spot-kicks were required after the pair were inseparable after 110 minutes of action where Mickey McColgan’s side came out on top.

The hosts got off to the dream start on Saturday, hitting the front inside the opening minute.

A great ball from Tiernan McGinty found the run of Darren McGeever who picked out the top corner to put his side ahead.

On 13 minutes, the visitors came close to leveling proceedings. Stephen Grant produced a fine first touch to bring a long ball down and see him through on goal however, he was unable to keep his effort on target.

Five minutes later, they were awarded a penalty when Cian McEleney was taken down by Shane Coll just inside the area.

McEleney himself stepped up to the spot and made no mistake to draw his side level.

Midway through Act One, the Quigleys Point residents hit the front in the contest.

A defensive clearance from the Glenea men fell to the feet of Jack McConnellogue who spotted Joe Coll off his line and found the target from long range.

On the 30 minute mark, Sean Coll’s side were awarded a penalty of their own. Calvin Murray was taken down by Jason McCallion as he was bearing down on goal and Leo Devenney pointed to the spot.

Murray took the subsequent spot kick and slotted it low into the corner of the net to leave the pair level at the break.

Five minutes after the restart, the Inishowen men regained their advantage as they scored their third.

The ball fell to the feet of Jack McConnellogue in the box and the Quigleys Point Swifts striker fired it low beyond Joe Coll in the Glenea goal.

Sean Coll’s outfit responded well and nearly drew level again immediately. A through ball from Cathal McGeever found the run of Darren McGeever who’s chipped effort came back off the crossbar.

On the hour mark, they eventually did find the equaliser. Cathal McGeever played the ball out wide to Calvin Murray who squared it to the awaiting Darren McGeever who fired home his second of the contest.

Both sides continued to attack in search of a potential winner but it didn’t arrive for either team and extra-time was required.

The best opportunity of extra-time fell for the visitors. Cillian McEleney fired an effort goalwards from the edge of the box but it rattled the Glenea crossbar.

Again, the two outfits were unable to be separated and a penalty shootout was set to take place.

The spot-kicks followed a similar pattern of the contest, with several twists and turns throughout.

It took fourteen penalties to determine a winner when Shea Lynch capitalised on a miss from Shaun Curran to send the Inishowen outfit through to the next round.

Teams

Glenea United: Joe Coll; Padraig Coyle, Stephen Doak, Conor Coyle, Shane Coll; Seamus Doogan, Shaun Curran, Cathal McGeever, Darren McGeever; Tiernan McGinty, Calvin Murray. Subs: Luke McCarry for Padraig Coyle (13 mins), Blake McGarvey for Doogan (66 mins), Ciaran McGeady for Darren McGeever (90 mins).

Quigleys Point Swifts: Jason McCallion; John McLaughlin, Brian McColgan, Ross Nicholas, Denis Canavan; Mark Murray, Shea Lynch, Darragh McIntyre, Stephen Grant, Jack McConnellogue, Cillian McEleney. Subs: Darragh O’Loughlin for Murray (80 mins).

Referee: Leo Devenney